Coon Rapids campus recently removed significant amount of trees in front of the parking lot

By Katy Elder

Staff Writer

In early August, ARCC paid the DLR Group to take down a section of trees due to an invasive plant called buckthorn spreading around and damaging trees. Many trees were cut down throughout the parking lot since most were at their end stages of life.

“They took down even more trees [in the parking lot] because they were uneven,” said Lisa Becker of the Anthropology Department at ARCC.

The faculty on campus struggle to find a way to communicate to students and staff as to why they removed all the unhealthy trees. According to Becker and the research she did on the buckthorn plant, after removing the invasive plant, the DNR recommended waiting two years to regrow or replant new trees.

The reduction of density of trees in the front of the parking lot has given some people a sense of security, however, there have been no reports of foul play on the ARCC Crime report.

“A father called and said it was the first time his daughter felt safe walking to her car after a night class,” said Don Lewis, Vice President of Finance and Administration, after the trees were removed.

Buckthorn is an invasive plant that was brought over from Europe in the 1800’s. The harmfulness of the plant to natural forests and other vegetation was originally unknown.